​Tanker trucks are heavily regulated by state and federal laws designed to mitigate the risks of major accidents. The agency that regulates tanker trucks and other commercial vehicles is The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which oversees the transport of dangerous materials including:
•  Hazardous materials like compressed gas
•  Toxic chemicals
•  Corrosive materials
•  Radioactive substances
Each material governed by this agency must be appropriately labeled, safely sealed, and secured in a manner that makes it clear the substance is potentially dangerous. Any discrepancy in these safety protocols can lead to tank explosions, leaks, or fires, even when a collision is not involved. Accidents have frequently occurred even when hazmat materials have been properly stored and labeled because of outside influences like driver fatigue, improper maintenance schedules, or overwork.

Because of their complexity, tanker trucks inherently represent a potential threat to other motorists, the driver of the tanker truck, and to the public at large. Potential points of failure include the truck’s air brakes, the heavy or hazardous loads carried by the truck, and the containment system that keeps the truck’s bio-hazardous cargo in check. Experts investigating tanker truck accident will analyze data and gather evidence to determine the cause of the accident. The most common causes involved in tanker truck accidents include:

• Deadlines and Commitments – Trucking companies and/or the drivers moving hazardous and flammable cargo must maintain moral responsibility for keeping the public safe. However, delivery commitments and trucking company deadlines often push drivers and management to drive long hours or long distances when the driver is fatigued, tired or ill equipped to arrive safely.
• Operator Inexperience – Investigators often find that truck drivers involved in a tanker truck explosion were not trained properly by the trucking company on how to properly handle the rig while caring hazardous, flammable or dangerous cargo.
• Overloading – Cargo that is improperly balance, or overloaded for the size of the rig can create a hazardous situation where the vehicle becomes difficult to maneuver, stop in time, or handle safely on the roadway.
• Improperly Maintained Vehicles – Because of the hazardous nature of the cargo being carried, any improperly maintained rig can break down at the most crucial time, creating unsafe conditions for the trucker and all other motorists on the road.
• Equipment Failure – Braking systems, tires, axles, signal lights and other components of the truck must work properly to minimize any potential of equipment failure. Often times, investigators find manufacturing defects, design flaws or improper installation of components that cause equipment failure when the truck is on the road.
• Inadequate Safety Policies – It is the responsibility of the trucking company to develop, maintain and implement adequate safety policies followed by managers, supervisors, loaders/unloaders and truck drivers to ensure the cargo is transported as safely as possible. Trucking companies can be held legally liable for injuries, property damage or death occurring from a lack of safety policies.
• Road Hazards – Truckers involved in a tanker truck explosion have often been driving erratically, or irresponsibly, causing an accident with injuries or death. Significant road hazards including weather conditions, roadway construction, heavy traffic, and other conditions are often involved in serious tanker truck accidents.